Lieutenant Athena
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant Athena is a fictional character
in the original Battlestar Galactica
television series, which ran on ABC
from 1978 to 1979. The character was portrayed by Maren Jensen
.
's only daughter, and serves as both a bridge officer on the Battlestar Galactica and as a pilot. She also is seen working as a teacher, providing education to some of the Colonial Fleet's children, in what appears to be an elementary school setting.
She had two brothers, Captain Apollo
who was featured in the series, and Zac
who was killed in the opening episode. Ila
, her mother, had died off screen during the Cylon
sneak attack on Caprica.
Before the destruction of the Twelve Colonies
, she had been romantically linked to Lieutenant Starbuck
, but later drifted apart, particularly after Starbuck met the ex-socialator Cassiopeia
. In a memorable sequence from "The Long Patrol
," Starbuck continues to try and date the two women, even on the same night, but ultimately Cassiopeia seemed to win out in the rivalry for Starbuck's affections.
Athena also expressed some concern Starbuck might eventually not return from a mission, and questioned whether they should continue their relationship. In "The Return of Starbuck
" episode of the sequel series Galactica 1980
, the audiences learned that Athena's concerns were, perhaps, justified.
The role of Athena was originally intended to be central to the series, but Maren Jensen was not an experienced actress, and despite considerable improvement over time, her screen time was gradually reduced. First, the role of Cassiopeia began to expand to fill the role Athena had been designed to play, and then the character of Lieutenant Sheba
was introduced midway through the season. Athena was the only major recurring character not to appear for the entire run of the show, as Maren Jensen left the series after "Greetings From Earth." However, she was still credited in the season's remaining episodes.
Although Athena was never seen again after this point, she was mentioned later in "The Return of Starbuck
."
was based on a goddess from Greek mythology
who was equivalent to the Roman Minerva
, also known as Athene.
(see Athena (Battlestar Galactica)
for her direct counterpart), however several characters in the new series encompass major elements of Jensen's character:
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
in the original Battlestar Galactica
Battlestar Galactica (1978 TV series)
Battlestar Galactica is an American science fiction television series, created by Glen A. Larson. It starred Lorne Greene, Richard Hatch and Dirk Benedict and ran for one season in 1978–79. After cancellation, its story was continued in 1980 as Galactica 1980 with Adama, Lieutenant Boomer and...
television series, which ran on ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
from 1978 to 1979. The character was portrayed by Maren Jensen
Maren Jensen
Maren Kawehilani Jensen is a former American model and actress, best known for portraying Athena in the 1970s television series Battlestar Galactica.-Biography:...
.
Character history
Athena is Commander AdamaCommander Adama
Commander Adama is a fictional character in the 1978 movie and subsequent ABC television series Battlestar Galactica and its continuation series, Galactica 1980. Adama is the commander of the great military vessel Battlestar Galactica, commander of the refugee fleet and military commander of the...
's only daughter, and serves as both a bridge officer on the Battlestar Galactica and as a pilot. She also is seen working as a teacher, providing education to some of the Colonial Fleet's children, in what appears to be an elementary school setting.
She had two brothers, Captain Apollo
Captain Apollo
Captain Apollo is the name of a fictional character in the Battlestar Galactica franchise. He was first played by Richard Hatch, who would also later appear as the character of Tom Zarek in the reimagined Battlestar Galactica series in 2005....
who was featured in the series, and Zac
Zac (Battlestar Galactica)
Zac is a fictional character in the original version of the TV series Battlestar Galactica, portrayed by Rick Springfield.He is the brother of Captain Apollo and Lieutenant Athena, and the son of Commander Adama and Ila. On his first flight with his brother, Zac is killed by an unexpected Cylon...
who was killed in the opening episode. Ila
Ila (Battlestar Galactica)
Ila of Caprica was the wife, now deceased, of Commander Adama in Battlestar Galactica. She was an off-screen character who was never actually seen, though she was referred to several times through the course of the series, and a likeness of her was briefly shown in the pilot episode...
, her mother, had died off screen during the Cylon
Cylon (1978)
Cylons are a fictional race of robots in the original Battlestar Galactica TV series. They are the primary antagonists of the series and are at war with the Twelve Colonies of humanity. The Cylons also appeared in the short-lived 1980 spin-off series Galactica 1980.The Cylons were created by a...
sneak attack on Caprica.
Before the destruction of the Twelve Colonies
Twelve Colonies
The Twelve Colonies of Man are fictional locations that constitute the principal human civilization in the original Battlestar Galactica television series, the "reimagined" series of the same name in 2004, and in the prequel series, Caprica...
, she had been romantically linked to Lieutenant Starbuck
Lieutenant Starbuck
Lieutenant Starbuck of the Colonial Service, played by Dirk Benedict, is a fictional character in the 1978 science fiction television series Battlestar Galactica. Starbuck is a Viper starfighter pilot, gambler, womanizer and smoker of "fumerellos," or cigars. He is involved with Lieutenant Athena...
, but later drifted apart, particularly after Starbuck met the ex-socialator Cassiopeia
Cassiopeia (Battlestar Galactica)
Cassiopeia is a fictional character in the original Battlestar Galactica which ran on ABC from 1978 to 1979. The role was portrayed by Laurette Spang.-History:...
. In a memorable sequence from "The Long Patrol
The Long Patrol (Battlestar Galactica)
"The Long Patrol" is an episode of the original Battlestar Galactica television series.-Plot synopsis:The Galactica leads the fleet through a void of asteroid dust into another galaxy, leaving the galaxy in which the Twelve Colonies once existed...
," Starbuck continues to try and date the two women, even on the same night, but ultimately Cassiopeia seemed to win out in the rivalry for Starbuck's affections.
Athena also expressed some concern Starbuck might eventually not return from a mission, and questioned whether they should continue their relationship. In "The Return of Starbuck
The Return of Starbuck
"The Return of Starbuck" is the tenth and final episode of the television series Galactica 1980, a spin-off of the earlier ABC science fiction series Battlestar Galactica....
" episode of the sequel series Galactica 1980
Galactica 1980
Galactica 1980 is a science fiction television series, and a spin-off from the 1978–1979 series Battlestar Galactica. It was first broadcast on the ABC network in the United States from January 27 to May 4, 1980.-Development:...
, the audiences learned that Athena's concerns were, perhaps, justified.
The role of Athena was originally intended to be central to the series, but Maren Jensen was not an experienced actress, and despite considerable improvement over time, her screen time was gradually reduced. First, the role of Cassiopeia began to expand to fill the role Athena had been designed to play, and then the character of Lieutenant Sheba
Lieutenant Sheba
Lieutenant Sheba, portrayed by Anne Lockhart, is a fictional character and regular cast member of the 1978-1979 ABC television series Battlestar Galactica....
was introduced midway through the season. Athena was the only major recurring character not to appear for the entire run of the show, as Maren Jensen left the series after "Greetings From Earth." However, she was still credited in the season's remaining episodes.
Although Athena was never seen again after this point, she was mentioned later in "The Return of Starbuck
The Return of Starbuck
"The Return of Starbuck" is the tenth and final episode of the television series Galactica 1980, a spin-off of the earlier ABC science fiction series Battlestar Galactica....
."
Athena's rank
In the episode The Long Patrol, a readout on one of the computers lists Athena's rank as Lieutenant. In other parts of the series she is referred to as an Ensign. However, depending on which order the episodes were filmed (vis-a-vis broadcast order), it is likely that she was promoted at some point.Origin of name
The name AthenaAthena
In Greek mythology, Athena, Athenê, or Athene , also referred to as Pallas Athena/Athene , is the goddess of wisdom, courage, inspiration, civilization, warfare, strength, strategy, the arts, crafts, justice, and skill. Minerva, Athena's Roman incarnation, embodies similar attributes. Athena is...
was based on a goddess from Greek mythology
Greek mythology
Greek mythology is the body of myths and legends belonging to the ancient Greeks, concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. They were a part of religion in ancient Greece...
who was equivalent to the Roman Minerva
Minerva
Minerva was the Roman goddess whom Romans from the 2nd century BC onwards equated with the Greek goddess Athena. She was the virgin goddess of poetry, medicine, wisdom, commerce, weaving, crafts, magic...
, also known as Athene.
Analog in the re-imagined Battlestar Galactica
The character of Athena does not appear in this capacity in the 2004 TV seriesBattlestar Galactica (2004 TV series)
Battlestar Galactica is an American military science fiction television series, and part of the Battlestar Galactica franchise. The show was developed by Ronald D. Moore as a re-imagining of the 1978 Battlestar Galactica television series created by Glen A. Larson...
(see Athena (Battlestar Galactica)
Athena (Battlestar Galactica)
Athena is the name of several characters in the fictional Battlestar Galactica universe.*Lieutenant Athena, a bridge officer on the Battlestar Galactica according to the original continuity, played by Maren Jensen...
for her direct counterpart), however several characters in the new series encompass major elements of Jensen's character:
- Sharon Valerii and Kara ThraceKara ThraceKara Thrace is a fictional character in the reimagined Battlestar Galactica franchise. Played by Katee Sackhoff, she is a revised version of Lieutenant Starbuck from the 1978 Battlestar Galactica series...
take on the piloting and romantic elements of the character and are also treated as "surrogate daughters" by William AdamaWilliam AdamaWilliam "Bill" Adama is a fictional character portrayed by Edward James Olmos in the re-imagined Battlestar Galactica television series...
, who has no biological daughter in the reimagined version. - Eventually, the copy of Valerii married to Karl Agathon is given the callsign Athena to distinguish her from the copy who had the callsign Boomer.
- Athena's role as a bridge officer is carried by the character of Anastasia DuallaAnastasia DuallaAnastasia "Dee" Dualla, portrayed by Kandyse McClure, is a fictional character in the reimagined Battlestar Galactica.-Character history:...
, who later becomes Adama's daughter-in-law.
External links
- Athena at the Battlestar Wiki